(OCALA, Fla.) March 30, 2010 — There will be free admission, live entertainment and exhibition tours at the African-American Festival Family Day at the Appleton Museum of Art of Central Florida Community College on Saturday, April 17, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will include stage performances by a traditional and folk storyteller, tours of the “Southern Journeys: African-American Artists of the South” exhibition, hands-on art projects, craft displays, scavenger hunts and games.

Sponsored by Honda of Ocala and presented in part by WMFQ-FM/92.9, the African-American Festival will feature award-winning folk artist J’miah Nabawi who will captivate audiences with stories about Bruh Rabbit, River Rocks and Old Raggedy Blankets. Presented at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m., Nabawi’s family-oriented performances include musical instruments, props and audience participation. Other scheduled activities include hands-on African-American art projects, games and a display of traditional cloth and contemporary folk art dolls by Linda Williams.

Visitors will also enjoy docent-stationed tours of the recently opened “Southern Journeys: African-American Artists of the South.” This exhibition showcases 55 paintings, sculptures and works on paper by African-American artists from the 1940s to today who have chronicled the history of southern culture in their art. Among the featured artists are Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett and Jacob Lawrence. “Southern Journeys” is a program of exhibitions USA, a national division of Mid-America Arts Alliance and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Guests are also invited to visit the Appleton Museum’s art galleries and view the extensive collections of world-class European, American and Contemporary art, plus African, Asian and pre-Columbian artifacts and antiquities.

Regular admission to the Appleton Museum is $6 for adults; $4 for seniors 55 or better and students 19 and over; $3 for youths ages 10-18; and free for members, CF students, children age 9 and under, and active military personnel and their immediate families. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays and closed on Mondays. A 12-month membership is also available for $25 for seniors 55 and over, $30 for adults 18 and over, $40 for two seniors over age 55, $50 for a family of two adults and any children under age 18, and $15 for all college students and current or retired educators. Owned and operated by College of Central Florida, the Appleton Museum of Art is located at 4333 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, just east of downtown on SR40 (exit 352 east off I-75 or exit 268 west off I-95). For more information call the Appleton Museum of Art at 352-291-4455 or visit www.AppletonMuseum.org.